Director of Safety, Security

Stony Brook University•Southampton, NY

About The Position

The Director of Safety, Security, provides executive-level leadership for all security, safety, emergency management, environmental health and safety (EHS), transportation, parking, and valet operations at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and its affiliated offsite locations. The successful candidate will bring leadership credibility, sound operational judgment, strong relationship-building skills, and the ability to move complex policies and processes forward in a timely, effective manner. This role ensures that all safety and security initiatives, programs, and procedures are aligned with the standards and strategic objectives of the Stony Brook Medicine Health System and with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements. The Director serves as the Hospital Safety Officer and Work Place Violence Committee Coordinator with responsibility for safety oversight data collection, analysis, reporting, and regulatory coordination. The position requires the ability to respond 24/7 to emergency events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, emergency management, public administration, healthcare administration, or a related field and seven (7) year’s progressive experience in safety and/or security operations with at least three (3) years in a healthcare environment. OR High School Diploma (or GED) and eleven (11) year’s progressive experience in safety and/or security operations with at least three (3) years in a healthcare environment.
Proven leadership experience managing staff and operating within a complex, matrixed organization.
Candidate must demonstrate competency in emergency management planning with a combination of experience, course work and credentials.
Demonstrated record of critical thinking and exemplary judgement skills.
Valid New York State Driver License, free of major violations, maintained throughout employment.
NYS Security Guard License or NYS Security Guard Instructor Certificate (or equivalent).
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association, obtained within three (3) months of hire.
Incident Command and Emergency Management NIMS coursework (Basic: IS-100, 200, 700, 800).

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in a related field.
Experience working within regulated healthcare environments and accreditation frameworks.
Experience in a multi-site healthcare system.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership, direction, and oversight for all hospital safety, security, emergency management, EHS, and transportation functions.
Supervise assistant director and manager of emergency management, providing guidance on operational strategy, employee relations, discipline, and performance management.
Plan, direct, and coordinate hospital security and safety functions through subordinate staff and/or contracted service providers.
Develop and manage the department operating budget including staffing, equipment, and contracted services.
Prepare and approve work schedules; assign or delegate responsibilities to ensure continuous coverage and operational effectiveness.
Interpret, implement, and communicate hospital policies, procedures, and system standards to subordinate personnel.
Evaluate employee performance and support professional development, succession planning, and supervisory readiness.
Coordinate administrative operations, including scheduling, procurement of supplies and equipment, fleet and vehicle maintenance, and deployment of personnel.
Recommend and implement strategies to improve safety, security, and operational efficiency.
Assist in the development, revision, and implementation of policies, procedures, and the Department Security Management Plan.
Ensure compliance with Health system security standards to plan, analyze, evaluate, and supervise all hospital security operations, including physical security assets, access control systems, cameras, weapons detection, and staffing models.
Partner with hospital leadership and facility stakeholders to resolve operational and physical plant issues affecting patient, visitor, and safety.
Evaluate existing security procedures and practices; update and improve methods to align with best practices and healthcare security standards.
Collaborate with executive leadership on short- and long-term facility security projects to ensure standards are met and maintained.
Provide direct security planning and support for construction and renovation projects, including traffic control and site security.
Identify, investigate, and resolve security-related incidents and operational concerns.
Conduct audits of security operations and perform physical surveys of hospital premises, including inspection of security equipment and infrastructure.
Supervise and prepare reports related to internal investigations involving theft, loss, policy violations, or other security matters.
Serve as the hospital liaison with local, county, and state law enforcement, fire departments, emergency management agencies, and other public safety entities.
Coordinate executive protection services when required.
Establish deadlines and accountability measures to ensure timely completion of security initiatives.
Coordinate and oversee department-wide training and professional development ensuring the development of leaders and supervisors who can maximize department operation excellence.
Develop and implement a comprehensive training program for security staff, including threat assessment, crisis intervention, de-escalation, emergency response, and regulatory compliance.
Manage and oversee the hospital’s weapons detection program.
Plan, implement, facilitate, evaluate, and continuously improve training programs for all security personnel.
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, accreditation, and hospital system standards, including DCJS licensing requirements.
Coordinate responses to regulatory, risk management, and compliance requests related to safety, security, competencies, and employee education.
Conduct routine risk assessment tours of sensitive and restricted areas to ensure adherence to safety and security protocols.
Attend and lead departmental participation in the hospital’s quality and safety improvement initiatives.
Lead after-action reviews following incidents or exercises to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Organize and participate in community outreach, educational programs, workshops, and public safety initiatives.
Lead hospital emergency preparedness, response, and recovery programs in coordination with executive leadership and system emergency management.
Ensure compliance with Incident Command System (ICS), NIMS, and healthcare emergency management requirements.
Plan, coordinate, and evaluate emergency exercises, drills, and real-world incident responses.
Serve as a key member of the Hospital Incident Command Team during emergencies.
Oversee Fire and Life Safety programs, including compliance monitoring, inspections, drills, and corrective actions.
Oversee EHS-related functions such as waste management, hazardous materials coordination, and environmental safety initiatives.
Coordinate with Facilities, Engineering, and clinical leadership on regulatory compliance and life safety matters.
Oversee Fire and Life Safety and Environmental Compliance.
Managing all Fire and Life Safety programs, ensuring a continuous "survey-ready" state for Joint Commission, CMS, and state audits. This includes maintaining the Statement of Conditions (SOC), conducting regular inspections of fire-rated barriers and equipment, and implementing Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM) during construction or system impairments.
Coordinate quarterly, multi-shift fire drills to evaluate staff emergency response and ensure the cradle-to-grave management of hazardous materials and waste streams, including regulated medical, pharmaceutical, and chemotherapy waste.
Serve as the primary liaison between Facilities, Engineering, and Clinical Leadership to align with systems security standards. This role serves on the physical environment committees, policy committees, work place violence and other committees as necessary to ensure safety for the hospital.
Provide executive oversight of hospital courier service, parking, and valet operations to support patient access, staff commuting, and visitor services.
Develop operational policies, staffing models, and service standards for transportation-related functions.
Oversee deployment, utilization, and maintenance of the hospital vehicle fleet.
Coordinate traffic flow, special events, construction impacts, and emergency transportation needs.
Ensure compliance with safety, licensing, and vehicle inspection requirements.